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桂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
桂guìcassia, cinnamonnr, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #21555, Hard
桂guìsurname Guiunknown, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #21555, Hard
桂guìabbr. for Guangxi Autonomous Region 廣西壯族自治區|广西壮族自治区[Guang3 xi1 Zhuang4 zu2 Zi4 zhi4 qu1]unknown, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #21555, Hard
guì(Gui4) T4
  1. 1cassia, cinnamon
  2. 2abbr. for Guangxi Autonomous Region 廣西壯族自治區|广西壮族自治区[Guang3 xi1 Zhuang4 zu2 Zi4 zhi4 qu1]
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March 24, 2026

桂guì(Gui4)

桂 (guì) primarily refers to the cassia tree, which is related to cinnamon and is valued both for its aromatic bark and its cultural significance in Chinese cuisine. This character is also a common surname in China and is used as an abbreviation for the Guangxi Autonomous Region, highlighting its geographical relevance. In culinary contexts, 桂 often appears in dishes and traditional medicine.

Strokes10Radical木Frequency#21555DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 桂 is significant during the Mid-Autumn Festival, where cassia is often associated with mooncakes, symbolizing reunion and harmony. The tree itself is also celebrated in poetry, representing beauty and resilience.

Memory Tip

Imagine a '桂' tree with its distinctive leaves, and think of 'gui' as 'guy' who loves the smell of cinnamon. Visualize him walking through a fragrant forest of cassia, which helps you remember both the character's form and pronunciation.

Meanings of 桂

guì(Gui4)
1cassia, cinnamon
2abbr. for Guangxi Autonomous Region 廣西壯族自治區|广西壮族自治区[Guang3 xi1 Zhuang4 zu2 Zi4 zhi4 qu1]
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 桂

桂Simplified
10Strokes
木Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 桂

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Podcast: 桂

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AI Study Notes for 桂

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a '桂' tree with its distinctive leaves, and think of 'gui' as 'guy' who loves the smell of cinnamon. Visualize him walking through a fragrant forest of cassia, which helps you remember both the character's form and pronunciation.

Usage Notes

桂 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in culinary discussions or when referring to the region. Learners should be careful with the tone, as 'guì' (fourth tone) can easily be confused with other words when mispronounced. Common collocations include 桂皮 (guìpí) for cassia bark.

HSK Study Tips

Although 桂 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects with other food-related terms and geographical names that learners may encounter. Focus on its usage in regional context and identify related food vocabulary to enhance retention.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 桂 is significant during the Mid-Autumn Festival, where cassia is often associated with mooncakes, symbolizing reunion and harmony. The tree itself is also celebrated in poetry, representing beauty and resilience.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 桂 with other characters that have similar pronunciations, such as 贵 (guì, meaning 'expensive'). For example, saying '我喜欢贵皮' instead of '我喜欢桂皮' can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 桂

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Etymology of 桂

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 圭 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

tree

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)圭
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 桂?

Decomposition of 桂

IDS Structure⿰木圭
桂Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
圭gui1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 桂?

Write 桂

桂

Practice writing 桂 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 桂

桂 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

你说得很对，这是月____树的叶子。

You are absolutely correct. The leaves are from a bay tree.

Example Sentences for 桂 (10)

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1
你说得很对，这是月桂树的叶子。

nǐ shuō dé hěn duì， ， zhè shì yuè guì shù de yè。

You are absolutely correct. The leaves are from a bay tree.
2
施特菲·格拉芙于1992年第4次赢得温布尔登桂冠。

shī tè fēi· · gé lā fú1992 yú 19924 nián dì 4 cì yíng dé wēn bù ěr。

Steffi Graf claimed a fourth Wimbledon title in
3
干月桂叶是烹制鲭鱼肉极佳的调味料。

gān yuè guì yè shì pēng zhì qīng yú ròu jí jiā de tiáo wèi liào。

Bay leaf is an excellent herb for mackerel.
4
其巨大的立柱为月桂和木兰花所环绕。

qí jù dà de lì zhù wéi yuè guì hé mù lán huā suǒ huán rào。

Its huge columns were wreathed with laurel and magnolia.
5
中方主持人: 刘桂秋副教授, 沈阳师范大学教育科学学院.

zhōng fāng zhǔ chí rén: : liú guì qiū fù jiào, shòu , shěn yáng shī fàn dà xué jiào yù kē xué.

Chinese Co - Chair : Prof. Liu Guiqiu, College of education science, Shenyang Normal University.
6
瑞秋, 为何我的肉桂棒上有橡皮擦?

ruì qiū, , wéi hé wǒ de ròu guì bàng shàng yǒu xiàng pí?

Rach, why does my cinnamon stick have an eraser?
7
把桂皮和剩下的糖混合在一起。

bǎ guì pí hé shèng xià de táng hùn hé zài yī qǐ。

Mix the cinnamon with the rest of the sugar.
8
我给您配嫩煎鸡末, 卷筒桂鱼和酸辣汤,好 吗 ?

wǒ gěi nín pèi nèn jiān jī mò, , juàn tǒng guì yú hé suān là, tāng ,?

Would you like Saute Minced Chicken, Mandarin fish and sour pungent soup?
9
达夫尼被阿波罗穷追不舍,最后被变成一棵桂树.

dá fū ní bèi ā bō luó qióng zhuī bù shě, , zuì hòu bèi biàn chéng yī kē guì.

Daphne was pursued by Apollo and was at last changed into a laurel tree.
10
两汉属荆州府桂阳郡浈阳县地.

liǎng hàn shǔ jīng zhōu fǔ guì yáng jùn zhēn yáng xiàn dì.

Guiyang Jingzhou Prefecture is Han Zhen Zhongyang county to county.

Cultural Notes for 桂

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, 桂 is significant during the Mid-Autumn Festival, where cassia is often associated with mooncakes, symbolizing reunion and harmony. The tree itself is also celebrated in poetry, representing beauty and resilience.

Word Family of 桂

Words Containing This Character20
桂guìsurname Gui
肉桂Chinese cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia)
桂冠laurel
桂林Guilin prefecture-level city in Guangxi
桂花guìhuāosmanthus flowers
桂皮cassia bark
桂圆longan fruit桂圓
吴三桂Wu Sangui (1612-1678), Chinese general who let the Manchus into China and helped them establish the Qing Dynasty, later leading a revolt against Qing in an effort to start his own dynasty吳三桂
折桂to win the laurels
桂林市Guilin prefecture-level city in Guangxi
桂枝cinnamon (Ramulus Cinnamomi)
穆桂英Mu Guiying, female warrior and heroine of the Yang Saga 楊家將|杨家将
桂东Guidong county in Chenzhou 郴州[Chēn​zhōu], Hunan桂東
桂阳Guiyang county in Chenzhou 郴州[Chēn​zhōu], Hunan桂陽
丹桂orange osmanthus
桂阳县Guiyang county in Chenzhou 郴州[Chēn​zhōu], Hunan桂陽縣
桂平Guiping county level city in Guigang 貴港|贵港[Guì​gǎng], Guangxi
临桂Lingui county in Guilin 桂林[Guì​lín], Guangxi臨桂
临桂县Lingui county in Guilin 桂林[Guì​lín], Guangxi臨桂縣
桂平市Guiping county level city in Guigang 貴港|贵港[Guì​gǎng], Guangxi
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 桂 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 桂

桂 translates to cassia or cinnamon, and it can also refer to a surname.